What Are the Best American Made Pipeline Tools?

Waterwork engineers and technicians rely on countless essential types of equipment in pipeline construction and development. Pipeline tools increase convenience for the technicians and waterwork engineers while connecting sections of pipes, pumps, and valves during their complex projects.

Technicians find these tools handy during the construction of fire hydrants, water treatment plants, public sewer systems, or as part of some maintenance project. In either case, waterworks engineers and technicians responsible for carrying out the work need complete confidence that their tools are efficient.

So which waterworks tools and equipment do engineers use to handle such complex tasks? We put together a list of vital pipeline tools to help you navigate your options. These tools will simplify your workload and let you tackle challenging projects with ease. Let’s dive into when, why, and how you should upgrade your pipeline tools.

When Should I Upgrade My Pipeline Tools?

Despite high-tech tools and technology, engineers and technicians rely on essential pipeline tools for several reasons. It’s important to watch out for common signs of wear and tear. If your toolkit shows signs of rust or resistance, you may be due for an upgrade.

Lowell pipeline tools come with an extensive range of innovative features like Bolt-Thru configuration and multiangle flexible handles. With these tools, there is no hassle while completing tasks.

Whether you’re performing water, oil, or gas pipeline work, we’ve got you covered. We can also assist you with hydrant maintenance and operation. You deserve to work with an American wrench manufacturer who can meet your needs.

Top 10 Essential Pipeline Wrenches

During a breakdown or malfunction, your big projects may halt. Even a minor error can result in a substantial loss. Therefore, it is best to maintain an essential pipeline toolkit. The best pipeline tools will help engineers and technicians perform everyday labor safely and efficiently.

Below, we’ve listed our top 10 recommendations for the essential pipeline hand tools you should carry into every worksite.

1) Pipe Wrenches

In case of a demanding and heavy pipeline maintenance or construction project, pipe wrenches may come to your rescue. Pipe wrenches feature a high-tensile ductile iron handle. The configuration of its alloy steel parts can withstand most complex tasks with ease. Pipe wrenches also come in 45 degrees offset style with a heavy-duty design to fulfill your most demanding requirements.

2) Chain Wrenches

Chain wrenches have vital applications in pipeline works. They allow smooth ratchet action with their dual reversible jaws in multiple directions without any requirement to remove the wrench from pipes.

3) Strap Wrenches

If you are working on a plastic pipe or a polished metallic pipe, strap wrenches may provide maximum power without leaving any blemishes, scratches, or deformities. Aluminum strap wrenches are another strap wrench that is light in weight but gives an excellent gripping power. 

4) Adjustable Wrenches

For ultimate precision, adjustable wrenches feature smooth jaws that help you work in comfort and give you the grip you need. Comfort grip is another adjustable wrench, thicker and more firm than other adjustable wrenches. It also reaps long-lasting grip and ergonomic benefits. 

5) Torque Wrenches

If you want to apply a specific torque to a fastener, torque wrenches give you the recommended torque on no-hub soil connections and fitting clamps.

6) Socket Sets

There are two types of socket sets available that might help you in the pipeline operations: standard utility socket sets and metric socket sets. Standard utility socket sets assist engineers in tightening and loosening long bolts of flanges, repair clamps, or mechanical couplings. Meanwhile, metric socket sets render help while tightening and loosening nuts.

7) Ratchet Wrench Handles

These ratchet wrench handles might feature traditional malleable iron or lower steel stamping that helps in adjusting the wrenches perfectly. 

8) Square Drive Ratchet Wrenches

Square drive ratchet wrenches are perfect for ratcheting line-up clamps during welding steel pipes and other pipeline needs. The value line of these wrenches comes in two sizes. To increase flexibility, you may select the preferred size and its stamped and reversible ratchet head.

9) 4-in-1 Ratchet Wrenches

The best 4-in-1 ratchet wrenches come in a dog bone shape to save your space. It features four-socket sizes in a single handle to double the functionality.

10) Valve Wheel Wrenches

Valve Packing Wrenches feature a flexible wrench at one end and a circular valve wheel wrench at the other end. These valve wheel wrenches increase functionality and flexibility.

Tips for Maintaining Your Pipeline Tools

Now that we’ve established the best pipeline tools, the next step is maintenance. Here are some tips on keeping your tools in proper working condition for years to come.

1) Read the Instruction Manual: Every piece of equipment has a standard operating procedure. Save yours to refer back to it during cleaning and inspection.

2) Use the Right Tool for the Job: One of the easiest ways to preserve your pipeline tools is to use them only for the right specialized tasks.

3) Inspect Your Toolkit Regularly: Before using your pipeline tools, always check for any defects or issues that may render the tool unsafe.

4) Keep Them Clean: Dirt and grime can cause damage to your pipeline tools quickly and make them not function properly. Always keep them clean and dry.

For more information about the Lowell wrench sets, call (800) 456-9355 or email customerservice@lowellcorp.com. You can also connect with us on Facebook for exciting updates on future products.

How to Upgrade Your Pipeline Toolkit

Lowell pipeline tools are the best high-quality hand tools in the industry. While working in any pipeline construction zone requires the right pipeline tools to strike a perfect balance between cost and efficiency.

Together, an array of our efficient wrenches and waterwork tools can help you achieve high productivity and accessibility for pipeline development, procedure, and maintenance. You can rely on our pipeline tools for your upcoming projects to go smoothly.

As an American wrench manufacturer, we make it simple for our highly-valued customers to find their preferred tools from our online catalog. With all our tools in one place, it’s easier than ever to find the right strap wrenches, socket sets, and accessories. We make sure the right tools are available when you need them and ship anywhere in the U.S.

Top 10 Essential Pipeline Tools to Supplement Your Wrenches

When it comes to pipeline tools, waterworks engineers and construction workers often focus on more expensive maintenance equipment — equipment like cameras, crawlers, cable, and cable reels. While it’s essential to have a diverse set of high-tech gadgets, you shouldn’t take the trade’s basic tools for granted.

If the right tool isn’t available in a pinch, inspections can come to a screeching halt. The day could be a complete loss if your hands are tied and you aren’t able to open needed maintenance holes or perform minor repairs as quickly as possible.

Here are ten essential tools that every pipeline worker should use to safely and efficiently tackle a project:

1) Manhole hook

Pipe inspection is a necessary part of any pipeline construction. It’s an essential process for keeping your pipelines running smoothly and safely. There are many different options for inspecting your pipes, but utility hole hooks have always been a standard solution among industry professionals.

2) Sledgehammer

Maintenance holes are a way for maintainers to access equipment in a safe and controlled manner. Whenever you drill, mill, or cut new maintenance holes into pipelines, the possibility of creating dust exists. Maintenance hole lids protect from this dust while workers complete work on sewer grates or other water systems.

However, these covers can become impossible to remove over time with just standard waterworks tools used for that purpose. Overhead swings with sledgehammers will effectively loosen the cap.

3) Gas monitor

Have you ever had a maintenance hole covered with dirt, grease, or oil? If the answer is yes, you know how easily it can be for workers to slip and fall while climbing over the cover. Many people sustained severe injuries by falling into a hole because they could not see where they were going due to obstruction from dirt and petroleum products.

Below the lid of a utility hole, gas and methane can collect to explosive levels. These gases may cause an explosion with just one spark from a simple tool like a hammer or wrench. In addition to this danger, workers may become overwhelmed by escaping gases during removal; therefore, you must take proper precautions.

4) Downhole roller

The downhole roller tool is a powerful and versatile device that prevents damage to the cable. It also allows you to detect problems in your pipeline to deal with them before there are serious consequences. It is not uncommon to encounter a bend in the pipe at the invert of an underground tank. Alert your field crew to begin a more thorough inspection when this occurs.

5) Lowering rope

Imagine that your tower crane is in an emergency and needs a new camera head. You’d need to hire a specialized company to do it for you in the old days since it’s a dangerous job. But with the proper lowering rope, combined with the engineer’s skills (and some safety devices), it can safely place the camera at any required height (up to 300 meters).

6) Digging bar

Maintenance holes are not always readily accessible. Often they are buried under a layer of asphalt or a few inches of dirt. A digging bar will help workers break through these obstructions and uncover the maintenance hole lid. The tool’s lightweight design makes it easy to use.

7) Shovel

Clearing dirt around the opening is essential before removing a maintenance hole cover. When you remove the lid, the last thing you want is a mound of dirt pouring into the maintenance hole structure and onto the pipeline trough below. Shovels have many valuable functions, including uncovering buried maintenance holes and cleaning the maintenance hole ring before lid replacement.

8) Flashlight

Workers should look into a maintenance hole at the start of any pipeline inspection to determine flow and structural conditions. Because maintenance hole structures can be deep and dark, flashlights provide workers with the necessary light. With illumination, you can estimate the depth of the design and determine whether you need any special tools or equipment for entry. If a flashlight is not available, you can use a mirror to reflect sunlight directly into the maintenance hole.

9) Toolkit

You can guarantee one thing with pipeline tools – repairs. In one form or another, repairs need to happen regularly. Rather than limp back to the yard, you can perform most repairs in the field. A toolkit with tools that match the camera system can mean the difference between a productive day and a wasted day. We recommend inspecting the toolkit regularly to ensure that the right tools are available when needed.

10) Electrical repair kit

Having a well-stocked electrical kit handy will help keep equipment running. Whether checking the voltage, continuity or performing minor repairs with a soldering iron, these tools can make a difference when it counts.

The Best Pipeline Tools Since 1869

Lowell Corporation offers the best hand tools in the waterworks industry. Whether you need a strap wrench or a roller clutch, you’ll want the right balance between cost and efficiency. Our custom hand tools make tough jobs easier with waterworks engineers and lineman tools. With our essential pipeline and construction hand tools, you get the backing of the most trusted American wrench manufacturer in the hand tool industry.

Above all, Lowell Corporation is proud to manufacture all of its pipeline tools right here in the U.S.A. in the heart of New England. All Lowell wrenches are 100% guaranteed with our one-year manufacturer warranty against defects in material and craft for one year from delivery.

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